Ashgabat
The capital city of Turkmenistan and known as the ‘city of love’. Explore its incredible marble palaces, gold domes, perfectly manicured boulevards and parklands set in a long dry valley. For spectacular views of the city and surrounding desert take a ride on the 3.5km long cableway to the lower peak of Kopet Dag.

Darvaza Gas Crater
Located in the Karakum desert, the Darvaza Crater is also known as the ‘Door to Hell’ which was created as a result of gas exploration in the 1970’s continues to burn today. As you stand near the edge of this fiery crater, you will be in awe of its magnificent colour and incredible strength visible from miles away.

Konye-Urgench
The town contains the ruins of the capital of Khwarezm, a part of the Achaemenid Empire. The town’s inhabitants deserted it three and a half centuries ago, leaving impressive monuments to its Silk Road past.

Merv
A once prosperous oasis city on the historical Silk Road and a major center of religious study, Merv served as the capital of several empires and kingdoms.

The best time for visiting Turkmenistan is from mid March to the end of May or from mid September to November, as daytime temperatures will be between 23 and 35°C.

Summer can be extremely hot, especially in the desert regions, and in contrast, winter months can be extremely cold.

It might seem like a bit of a drama to get into Turkmenistan with the visa requirement involving not only your name, date of birth, passport details, an extra passport photo and also your level of education (don’t worry, we help with the visa!) but that’s easily forgotten as once you arrive, the locals will be effusive in their welcome to this quirky country bordering Uzbekistan.

Part of the trade route along the Silk Road, Turkmenistan has plenty to shout about from the roaring flames of the Darvaza Crater, the extraordinary and surreal marble capital of Ashgabat, the Silk Road centres of Merv and Kunya-Urgench through to the vast Karakum Desert still hiding well preserved sea fossils. Yes, this desert was once a giant sea and you may well stumble over a perfectly round stone concretion containing a remnant of the past.

I can’t go anywhere without discussing the food. The unusually distinctive cuisine here is driven by the climate and geographical location as well as the nomadic history of the people. Dishes tend to be very meat heavy, and although vegetables are plentiful and fresh, vegetarians and vegans will need to be a little creative here. Plov, or palaw is found across the region, and consists of rice and lamb with added vegetables. Nourishing rich soups are common with dograma, a Turkmen comfort dish of lamb, flat bread and broth, at the top of the list. Turkmen melons, however, are amongst the best in the world and are celebrated with their own National Day!

There have been some very odd laws in the country in the past, supposedly to protect the local culture, but no opera is a hard one to rationalise. No spandex is easier… black cars are also forbidden so the rows and rows of white vehicles are there by law, not choice.

If you are looking for an unusual, history laden, friendly, odd travelling experience, Turkmenistan is for you! Maybe leave your spandex at home.

Kate Couling

Currency Turkmenistan manat

Language Turkmen is the official language, however Russian is widely spoken in cities.

Weather Summers are long, hot and dry (May to September), while winters are generally mild. Most rain falls between January and May, however annual averages are very low for most of the country.

Social customs & quirks Turkmen people are known for their incredible hospitality. Turkmenistan’s national dress hasn’t changed very much over centuries. Richly decorated headwear, jewellery and embroidery still accent even everyday clothing.

Festivals & events Turkmen Carpet Day is observed annually on the last Sunday of May. Exhibitions around the country feature local arts and crafts including exquisite handmade carpets that are unique to the country. The second Sunday in August is Melon Day, with festivities held in every province and including musical performances and melon and pumpkin contests!

Health* There are currently no health requirements entering Turkmenistan however some vaccinations may be recommended by your doctor.

Notes *Please be aware that Health information is subject to change at any time and you should always double check these requirements at the time of booking and before travel.